South Africa have recalled the Japan based duo JP Pietersen and Jaque Fourie for their game against Wales in the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Fourie returns to a Springbok team for the first time since the 2011 World Cup while it will be Pietersen's first test appearance in 2013. South African coach Heyneke Meyer admitted: "We're very fortunate to have two world-class players in JP and Jaque available for selection and I wanted to get then into the action as soon as possible.
“They bring a vast amount of experience to the team and it was clear from our training sessions thus far that they are in great form and ready for Test rugby.”
Prop Frans Malherbe makes his debut in place of the injured Jannie du Plessis. The only other change to the pack from the side that faced New Zealand sees Flip van der Merwe starting next to Eben Etzebeth in the secondrow.
“Frans has big boots to fill, but he’s been with us for most of 2012 and shown good form since recovering from injury recently and we don’t have any doubts that he has what it takes to make the step up,” Meyer said.
“He’ll have two players with more than 50 Test caps each next to him in the scrum, and his general work-rate across the field and on defence is very good. I’m very happy for Frans.”
South Africa: Pat Lambie, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers (captain), Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Flip van der Merwe, Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen. Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Gurthro Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Ruan Pienaar, JJ Engelbrecht, Willie Le Roux
